Arizona Baseball in post season

Arizona baseball made the post season. They are the number one seed in the Ann Arbor, Michigan regional. They will take on Eastern Michigan Friday. If they win they will take on the winner of Kentucky v Michigan. Good luck to the baseball team.

Arizona Softball off to the college world series

The Arizona softball team won the Tucson Super Regional against the University of Oklahoma and is off to the college world series in Oklahoma City. In the first game they take on UCLA. Arizona is going for there third title in a row. Good luck to them and let's bring it home!

YouTube Clip of the Week

Ok, I'm few hours late on this one, but hell I know you don't care. So unpack that tuna sandwich, open that bottle of water, put your feet up on your desk and enjoy the YouTube clip of the week.

This week we are taking a week off from the Wildcats for Glenn Beck. Beck has radio show, which I board opt when it airs hear in Tucson (no I don't know him, the show comes from New York, I just air it). Anyways the right wing talk show type also has a TV show on CNN Headline News.

Yesterday he had Ben Stein on to talk about the "nanny state." He does something on the air, that I think might be against FCC laws....but I'm not sure.




Really, I don't think your aloud to smoke on basic cable.
More Wildcat news soon. For real!

Negedu wants out-so long

Arizona basketball recruit Emmanuel Negedu has asked head coach Lute Olson out of his commitment to come to Tucson to play for the Cats. Reports are Olson will not let him out of his legally binding letter of intent meaning he will have to transfer and sit out a year.

Good reddens to Negedu. If he doesn't want to play here, let him go. If he wanted to play for Kevin O'Neil, Josh Pastner or Miles Simon-all who are gone and not Lute Olson, then he should just go away.

I wouldn't want someone working for me who didn't want to work for me.

There are a million and a half rumor of why he wouldn't want to go to Arizona, including reports that Olson hung up on him Sunday while he was trying to talk him into coming to Tucson. Another report say that he spent Saturday night of his recruiting visit in the hotel by himself, with out a host. If that is true it would not be the norm.

But none of that changes my opinion on this story.

Not a lot more to say on this one, other then Lute-just let him go.

Dunlap Joins Arizona's Staff

Story courtesy of arizonaathletics.com

TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona men’s basketball coach Lute Olson today announced the hiring of Mike Dunlap as associate head coach.

Dunlap, 50, joins the NCAA Division I ranks after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association’s Denver Nuggets. While working under head coach George Karl, the Nuggets compiled a 95-69 (.579) record and made two playoff appearances. The 2007-08 club won 50 games, a first for the organization in 23 seasons.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the University of Arizona and to help Coach Olson further the rich tradition of Arizona basketball,” said Dunlap. “My family and I look forward to being a part of this program and to the Tucson community.”

Prior to joining the Nuggets, Dunlap, a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year and winner of two national championships, was the head coach at Metropolitan State College, for nine seasons. In his nine years at the Denver, Colo., school, Dunlap posted a 248-50 (.832) record.

During his tenure, Dunlap built the Roadrunners into a nationally prominent program. With national championships in 1999-2000 and 2001-02 and nine consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, Dunlap quickly became Metro State's all-time winningest basketball coach.

In May 2006, he was a court coach for the Under-18 National Team trials for USA Basketball. He also was a court coach at the 2005 USA Men’s Under-22 National Team trials.

In 2003-04, Dunlap led Metro State to a school-record 30 consecutive victories, including a perfect 19-0 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. It was the first time an RMAC team went undefeated in league play since Fort Hays State did it in 1995-96. The Roadrunners led the nation in margin of victory (28.1 points) and were third in scoring offense (93.4 ppg).

Metro State won its second national championship in 2001-02, defeating Kentucky Wesleyan, 80-72. Dunlap was named the NABC and the Bulletin Division II Coach of the Year. The squad posted a 29-6 record and finished second in the RMAC, but after a loss in the RMAC Tournament, the Roadrunners won six straight games to win the national title.

Dunlap's first national championship came in 1999-2000, also a win over Kentucky Wesleyan, 97-79. The Roadrunners tied for the RMAC regular-season championship, won the RMAC Tournament title and went 33-4 after winning their final 12 contests. The 33 wins is a school record and Dunlap was honored as the NABC National Coach of the Year and the RMAC Coach of the Year.

“We’re glad that Mike chose to join our staff,” said Olson. “We feel very fortunate to add a coach to our staff that has his experience and ability. He’s a great coach and an even better family man and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Prior to his tenure at Metro State, Dunlap served three seasons as the head coach of the Adelaide 36ers, a professional team in Australia. The 36ers posted a 59-33 (.641) record during his tenure and advanced to the National Basketball League Final Four in 1995 and 1996.

Before arriving in Australia, Dunlap served five years as head coach at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He led his 1992, 1993 and 1994 teams to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles and appearances in the NCAA Division III National Championship. The Kingsmen also advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1992 and 1994. The Kodak District Coach of the Year in 1994, Dunlap was 80-54 (.597) in his five seasons, and his 1993-94 team was ranked No. 1 for two weeks during the season.

Dunlap also served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California under George Raveling, as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa and he spent five years at Loyola Marymount University.

Dunlap, who prides himself in teaching the game of basketball, has had several articles published nationally, including Shooting: The Simple Approach (1990), The Free Throw (1990), Let Your Feet Do the Talking (1989), Motion Offense (1987) and Basic Framework for Achieving Academic Eligibility for Your Players (1987).

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Dunlap earned as associate of arts degree in science from Pierce College in 1978, before earning a bachelor's degree in English from Loyola Marymount University in 1980. An avid runner, Dunlap has a 100-mile race to his credit.

Dunlap and his wife, Mollie, have three children, Holt, Spencer and Ellie.

YouTube Clip of the week

Welcome to Thursday and that can only mean one thing. The Office on NBC! I love that show!

But that's not why you tune into my blog, oh hell no! No you turn to my blog for Wildcat news and notes and Thursday only means one thing....The YouTube Clip of the Week!

I take you back to opening day 2006 of Arizona Football. The Cats are hosting BYU. The game is tied with 6 seconds to go. Arizona decides to kick the 48 yard field goal to win. On comes Nic Folk and the rest is history! Enjoy!

Pastner to Memphis: Good for him

Let's get this out of the way first, I'm a big fan of Josh Pastner. Who isn't really?

The ultimate bench guy during his years as an Arizona player, almost everyone in Wildcat Nation has fond memories of his playing days. Or lack there of. If Pastner was going to play, the Cats had won the game. If Pastner scored, it was a great night.

When he graduated in 2000 the opportunity to coach for the Cats opened. It was good news for all Wildcat fans. He'd be on the bench for another 8 years.

A monster recruiter he helped spot talent and convince them that Tucson is the place to be. Lute Olson is the guy to learn from. UCLA, Stanford, Oregon are the teams you want to play year after year.

Monday he made it official. He's leaving Tucson to be an assistant for the University of Memphis Tigers.

Good for him.

It was the right move, in the long run for both the Cats and Pastner.

Let's be honest. Pastner was never going to be the "next" head coach at Arizona. That's not to say he'll never be the head coach at Arizona. I think he might be. But he needs more experience, he probably needs to be a head coach before he can assume the duties in Tucson. He's on his way to doing that.

Looking into my crystal ball, Pastner could/should be at Memphis for 5 to 7 years. Meanwhile back in Tucson, Olson coach for another 3 to 5 season, retires and is replaced by on outside head coach-someone of the class of Mark Few (head coach at Gonzaga).

Pastner then takes a head coaching job at a Northern Arizona type school. He's head coach there for 5 to 10 years. At Arizona, the Few type coach retires after 10 seasons. Pastner is now in his late 40s and has been a head coach. He gets the Arizona job and is welcomed back to Tucson.

It's the perfect road map for everyone.

"I did nothing without consulting Coach Olson and Mr. (Jim) Livengood (UA's athletic director) about it. They both agreed that this would allow me to stretch and expand and get better. Tucson is my home," Pastner said Monday.

If Pastner was going to leave prior to Olson leavening there is no better time this year. He is leaving a team that seems to be falling apart at the seems, at least from an outsiders view. He's leaving a team that is replace all the other assistants. He's leaving a team with a head coach who clearly wants to stack his staff with experienced assistants.

He's going to team that is up and coming. He is going to a team that should have won the national championship in 2008.

It like watching your son or daughter go off to college. Your sad to see them go, but you know it's the best thing for them. Plus they can always come home.

"One day I'd love to come back here," Pastner said Monday. "Both coach Olson and Mr. Livengood said, 'do what's best for Josh.' They wanted me here in the program, but they want what's best for Josh."

Good luck Josh. We'll miss you and well look forward to seeing you back in Tucson in 20 years. Maybe you'll even have golden hair by then!

Arizona Softball hits the road to start post season

The Arizona softball team will need to pack it's bags for his first round of the NCAA softball tournament. Arizona (36-16) will meet Canisius (38-12) in the first game Friday, May 16 in Long Island, N.Y. This is the 22nd year in a row the Cats have made the softball post season.



The winner meet the winner of the Long Island-Hofstra game scheduled immediately following. The loser of Game 1 meets the loser of Game 2 in the second scheduled game on Saturday.

The winner from Hempstead will meet the winner from an NCAA Regional in Norman, Oklahoma. The NCAA will determine the host site for the Super Regionals following play in the first rounds this week.

Arizona is the two time defending national champions and is still under the leadership of pitcher Taryne Mowatt. But head coach Mike Candrea is not with the team this season, rather he is working with USA softball getting ready for the upcoming summer Olympics. This is the second time interim coach Larry Ray has taken control, who was also the head coach during the 2004 Olympic year.

With Lute as with Bush, mums the word

There is an old saying that you should not talk politicise or religion at work.

In Tucson you can add something to that list, Lute Olson.

When it comes to Arizona’s head basketball coach, they way he handled his leave of absence and everyday since then has created a divide almost never seen. Say the wrong thing and you’ll loss friends. Say the wrong thing and your mom, dad, brother or sister might never talk to you again. That how strong people feel.

The best thing to do is not even talk about it. Keep it to yourself.

It doesn’t matter if your in the camp that says Olson has mistreated his staff. He did, after all, fire both Kevin O’Neil and Miles Simon.

Or if your in the camp that says both O’Neil and Simon got what they had coming. After all, last season was the worst in decades for Arizona basketball.

It doesn’t matter if your in the camp that says Arizona Daily Star writers Greg Hanson and Bruce Pascoe should be getting the silent treatment for digging too hard as to what was really going on with coach O’s absence.

Or if your in the camp that says said reports were doing there jobs and really never said anything that horrible anyway.

The dividing line is similar to politics. You say Lute has done nothing but the wrong thing for the past year, your not a true Cats fan. Sounds familiar, after all if you disagree with the president you must be against America, right?

You support him, your just blindly supporting him right? Just like the president. You must be for everything he does, right? Olson could have killed someone in his infamous press conference and you’d still support him, right?

Of course no one should be or is comparing major political issues like, war, hunger and then environment to sports. It’s no where near as important. But to a lot of people it is just as passionate.

Several recent exchanges on the message board at Wildcat Sports Report slowly turned into name calling and stubbornness by several posters, myself included. One thread even boiled down to if the pro Lute or the anti Lute people are the conservatives or liberal of the Arizona basketball world.

So for now just remember this: don’t talk about Lute at work, with your girlfriend or boyfriend or with your family and you’ll be ok. Maybe I should listen to myself.

YouTube Clip of the week

Crack open the Thursday morning beer, put your feet up on the table and get ready for a good time. That's right, it's time for the You Tube Clip of the week! Wha hooooooo!

This is from a U of A versus Arizona State hockey game. A little fight broke out. You can not really see a lot on this clip, but the funny part is I was just one section over getting drink with Shu, Brad, Rob, Mike, the ZDs and others.

I should have got in on the action. Well, maybe not.

So enjoy the action!

Russ Pennell Named Assistant Coach

In one of the worst kept secrets in Tucson Lute Olson today announced the hiring of Russ Pennell as an assistant coach. Pennell replaces Kevin O'Neil, who as of today still works for the AD's office but is not a coach.

Pennell served as an assistant coach for Arizona State for eight seasons from 1998-2006. Pennell has worked with former ASU coach Rob Evans since 1992 both at Mississippi and Arizona State. He also spent two years at Oklahoma State under coach Eddie Sutton from 1990-1992.

For the past two years he has worked on the Arizona State Radio Network.

“We’re happy to be adding a coach like Russ to our staff with his wealth of experience,” said Arizona head coach Lute Olson. “He is an outstanding coach, a hard worker and a wonderful family man. I’m sure Russ and his family will fit into the Tucson community very nicely.”

Pennell was widely rumored to be taking over for O'Neil even prior to him being moved to another department with in the AD's office. Basketball coaches at the university are considered state job, thus they most be posted for two weeks prior to someone being hired-explaining the delay in the official introduction.

Pennell will be the third assistant head coach in as many years. Besides O'Neil, Jim Rosborough also held that job. He too now holds other duties with in the athletic department.

Olson now has a second job to fill, Miles Simmon did not have has contract renewed Friday.

Josh Pastner out too?

Rumours are flying that U of A assistant coach Josh Pastner has or soon will take a job as the assistant head coach at Memphis, a job left open when Derek Kellogg became the head coach at UMass.

If this happens, it will mean all three of head coach Lute Olson assistant coaches left the program since Olson returned in April. No word yet from Memphis, Arizona or Pastner on the validity of this rumor.

Stay tuned.

BREAKING NEWS

Arizona assistant mens basketball coach Miles Simmon has been let go. Simmon also played at Arizona and was the MOP of the 1997 tourney. He has been a coach with the team since 2005. The U of A will not need to pay him any money since his contract is up. Simmon is the secound coach in as many weeks to leave the staff. Kevin O Neil now has another job with the ADs office.

YouTube Clip of the Week

It's Thursday and that can only mean one thing.....The YouTube Clip of the Week!!!! Well this is the first ever, but every Thursday from now on.

This week it's from 1996. Arizona v Cincinnati. Cincinnati was number one in the country at the time. Lute Olson was going for his 500th win. It was one of the greatest plays in the history of college basketball, in my opinion.

Arizona Golfer wins Pac-10

From the Arizona Daily Star

By Patrick Finley
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Creighton Honeck picked at his buffet lunch. He couldn't eat.
After double-bogeying the second-to-last hole of Wednesday's Pac-10 men's golf championships in Fairfax, Calif., the UA senior figured he lost any chance to win the individual title.
"You get that emptiness feeling in your stomach when something like this happens," the senior said.
After about an hour off — one that included a few practice shots — Honeck learned he had completed 18 holes in a first-place tie and would be paired with UCLA's Kevin Chappell, a good friend, in a sudden-death playoff.
Honeck said he "bombed a driver" just to the left of the fairway, and hit a four-foot putt to birdie — and win — the first playoff hole.
"I don't really remember much after that," he said.
It marked the first tournament victory of his collegiate career. Honeck finished with a 71 on the day, the only one of the tournament's top five finishers to make par. For the tournament, he shot a 3-under 281.
He is the seventh UA golfer to win the Pac-10 title and the first since Henry Liaw in 2004.
The Texan wasn't as thrilled as you would think — the UA finished sixth as a team, and Arizona State beat USC in a one-hole playoff.
Walking up the last fairway of regulation, he started thinking it was the last tournament he would play with his college teammates.
"You get those feelings," he said. "I'm walking down the fairway and I have my whole team in red and white watching me come in. Seeing all those guys — they're my friends, they're my family — and knowing it was my last tournament with all them, it's pretty sad."
Coach Rick LaRose expected that.
"You'd have to say he was the team leader this year," the UA coach said. "He fit the mold. He was a pleasure to have around."